THE Western Region branch of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has expressed grave concern about the increasing problem of drug-abuse among students in the region.It said the problem is clearly evident at inter-school sports festivals, student get-togethers and other entertainment spots where a lot of students converge.

This, the association said, is a contributory factor to the high incidence of failure and drop out among students in the region.

Mr Nat Kwofie, regional chairman of CHASS expressed these sentiments at the first annual regional conference of the association at Takoradi yesterday.

The conference is being held under the theme: "making secondary education in the region available".

Mr Kwofie called for collective responsibility on the part of chiefs, parents and district assemblies to find a solution to the problem which has far-reaching consequences on the future of the country.

"We should not sit down unconcerned and blame the school authorities for a situation which has assumed national and international dimension", he stressed.

He said other factors which militate against quality of education are lack of qualified teachers as well as the citing of numerous senior and community secondary schools in places without any catchment areas and suggested that the authorities should critically look at the less viable schools in the region and take action on them.

According to Mr Kwofie, out of the 42 senior secondary schools dotted around the region, about 20 of them could be described as woefully below the status of second cycle schools since most of them lack infrastructural facilities necessary to facilitate the development of the mental, spiritual and physical capabilities of the students.

In a keynote address, the Western Regional Minister, Mrs Esther Nkansah, announced that the regional co-ordinating council has instituted an award scheme for both teachers and students.

She said district assemblies in the region have embraced the government's new policy of sponsorship of teacher trainees whilst the concept of district education oversight committees are also being implemented.The Regional Director of Education, Mr E.Y. Effah said heads of schools have been empowered to put an embargo on the salaries of teachers who do not perform well.

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